I tend to agree with most of these spreads, save the Falcons and Panthers. I believe we should be favoured over Panthers and it should be closer with Falcons.

The Panthers' offensive line got worse, and we did really bad things to Cam Newton last year. Granted, their at the tail end of a three game road stretch, but I don't think there is very much talent on that team and that we match up very well against them.

The loss of Kyle Shanahan (previous OC for Falcons) is going to have a bigger impact than people think. They can't just replicate last years plays, as they are all on tape at this point, and the creator of the unique scheme is gone. Their roster is not as loaded as their 2016 success would suggest. They still have holes all over the defense, no viable TE (our weakness), and Sanu/Gabriel were products of the scheme.

I think we have a chance to come out of the season 10-6.

What do you guys think?

_________________Not easy being a Vikes fan and staying an "unbiased" creator of Sidestream Football. This is my therapy. SKOL.

Wed May 10, 2017 12:22 pm

mansquatch

Hall of Fame Candidate

Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:44 pmPosts: 3300Location: Coon Rapids, MN

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

I’ll nibble:

Saints: Should be a win. Saint have no defense to speak of and AP is typically poor in the first 4 games of any season as he doesn’t play pre-season games. That could change. Steelers: This will be a tough game, but we’ll be catching their offense in week 2 before it is in full mid-season form. This being on the road makes it a challenge though. Probably a loss.Bucs @ Vikings: Bucs are worse than their record indicates. They have two quality wins against ATL and SEA last year, everything else was against garbage teams and they lost games to teams worse than ATL and SEA. Winston does not have much experience playing a defense of the quality he’ll play against in MINLions: On paper we should win both games. The Lions statistically over achieved last year including 2 games against us when our offense was utterly pathetic. If our OL improvements “stick” then we should take these games. Bears: Could be push overs against this year, but they are very well coached and most of their defense was injured last year. Might not be as easy, but their QB situation is a disaster and their WR situation is worse. Should be two wins, but always hard to play in CHI. Probably a spit.Packers: We should split with them. Their offense has gotten worse on paper. So has their defense, but hard to take 2 from Rogers in a given season. As usual, the schedule maker favors the Pack by giving them the December game vs. us at Lambeau. Ravens: This team seems to be moving in the wrong direction right now. That could change. Maybe a push, but it at home so odds favor Vikings.Browns: unless a miracle turnaround happens we are beating CLE.Redskins: We lost to them last year, but the team is in turmoil. Will Cousins even be back? Push, but have to slightly favor WSH since it is a road game. Falcons: Probably a loss, but we could pull off the upset.Panthers: I think we’ll win this. Their OL is worse than last year’s unit and their defense still has no replacement for Josh Norman. Another team that is going backwards.Bengals: This is another team that moved backwards last year, are they going to turn it around? Game could have playoff implications for both squads. Hard not to like Vikings since it is at home.

I think likely record is somewhere between 10-6 and 13-3, entirely depending on staying healthy and the additions at Tackle being league average. There is a lot that can go wrong at this point injury wise. The best defense on this schedule by a long ways is ours. It is statistically likely that at least one team on the schedule turns itself around and will be playing with positive momentum when we face them, thus shifting the odds. Of course, we could be that team also.

All of the elite teams we face this season are built around offense which favors our defensive strength.

_________________Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi

Wed May 10, 2017 1:08 pm

chicagopurple

All Pro Elite Player

Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:45 amPosts: 1269

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

2017 We are blessed with a weak schedule. Moreover, our conference is also getting weaker. The Bears continue to be incompetent, the Lions fail to draft their needs and will waste the QB's career ala AP, and GB is just plain aging out. Its really a Prime Time for the Vikes to declare supremacy but I am not convinced that the Front Office has realized the urgency and made the moves that time demands. Its kind of sad because this window will close. We should be able to take our division but we are no where near competing with the real quality teams in the rest of the league.

Wed May 10, 2017 1:21 pm

PurpleKoolaid

Hall of Famer

Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 9:52 pmPosts: 7973

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

This is exactly what I bet, and the end of Rick's Era. So we start new, all over again.

Fri May 12, 2017 3:50 pm

Mothman

Defensive Tackle

Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:48 amPosts: 37219Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

PurpleKoolaid wrote:

This is exactly what I bet, and the end of Rick's Era. So we start new, all over again.

I think it will take more than another 8-8 season to send Slick Rick packin'. He has more lives than a cat.

I'm at the point where another 8-8 or 9-7 season from this Vikings team might as well be a 5 or 6 win season. It's obviously better to win 9 games than 5 but the mediocrity needs to end and I don't mean "end" in the sense of an occasional season with double digit wins and a "one and done" playoff appearance. I mean it in the sense of becoming a team that makes the playoffs years in a row and is an actual threat to win it all, not just a "we have faith in our coach/GM/favorite player and if everything goes just right once we might be able to accomplish the improbable" sense.

Green Bay has had 16 double-digit win seasons since 1995. That's 16 in 22 years. They've played in 3 Super bowls in that time span, winning 2 of them. That's not luck at work. That's evidence of a well-run franchise.

In that same time span the Vikings have managed double-digit winning seasons just 7 times and we all know how many Super Bowls they've appeared in during that span. Our team's biggest rival has radically out-performed them over the last 20+ years and it's increasingly frustrating that the Vikes just can't get their act together and become a team like that instead of living in the shadow of their biggest rival. It's painful, especially since most of us probably can't stand the Packers. I know I cant...

Sorry, I just needed to vent but I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling this frustration.

Sat May 13, 2017 11:53 am

PurpleMustReign

Starting Wide Receiver

Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:48 pmPosts: 17786Location: Crystal, MN

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

Mothman wrote:

I'm at the point where another 8-8 or 9-7 season from this Vikings team might as well be a 5 or 6 win season. It's obviously better to win 9 games than 5 but the mediocrity needs to end and I don't mean "end" in the sense of an occasional season with double digit wins and a "one and done" playoff appearance. I mean it in the sense of becoming a team that makes the playoffs years in a row and is an actual threat to win it all, not just a "we have faith in our coach/GM/favorite player and if everything goes just right once we might be able to accomplish the improbable".

Green Bay has had 16 double-digit win seasons since 1995. That's 16 in 22 years. They've played in 3 Super bowls in that time span, winning 2 of them. That's not luck at work. That's evidence of a well-run franchise.

In that same time span the Vikings have managed double-digit winning seasons just 7 times and we all know how many Super Bowls they've appeared in during that span. Our team's biggest rival has radically out-performed them over the last 20+ years and it's increasingly frustrating that the Vikes just can't get their act together and become a team like that instead of living in the shadow of their biggest rival. It's painful, especially since most of us probably can't stand the Packers. I know I cant...

Sorry, I just needed to vent but I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling this frustration.

I got nothing against the Packers. It's a well run franchise with a roster full of decent dudes...except for Rodgers.It's Packer fans that make me wanna throw up.-If the Vikes don't win the North this year, I will disappoint.If they go 8-8 or worse and Spielman doesn't get whacked, I'll lol, cause I think ownership is the problem...as it was with McCombs.-I don't see that there is evidence of an implementable (is that a word?) vision for this team. Consistantly mismatched talent vs scheme and/or coaching.They seemed to have it figured out on defense...but this is the absolute worst Viking offense I can remember watching. Yes, there was a crapton of o-line injuries last season. There has also been far less than adequate talent there for 10years...made up for by AD mostly and perhaps the best statistical season of Favre's career.-Cuttng McKinnie with no replacement was a stupid move. Relying on Loadholt, Sullivan and an obviously strugglng oft injured Kalil to anchor the line was even dumber....and many regular fans called it before hand....which makes me wonder what the hell goes on in talent/scheme discussions.Meanwhile, Musgrave (yeah that guy lol) and Tice are tearing it up in Oakland. What will they do with CP?Mike Wallace is thriving as a Raven. And Adrian Peterson finally has a QB.Speaking of which, the Vikes don't have a QB(to speak of) under contract past this season.Yeah, it's frustrating lol, but we all know that by now.If Remmers and Rieff can have decent seasons, ths team can make a splash IMO..but for now, I need to see it to believe it.

I'm at the point where another 8-8 or 9-7 season from this Vikings team might as well be a 5 or 6 win season. It's obviously better to win 9 games than 5 but the mediocrity needs to end and I don't mean "end" in the sense of an occasional season with double digit wins and a "one and done" playoff appearance. I mean it in the sense of becoming a team that makes the playoffs years in a row and is an actual threat to win it all, not just a "we have faith in our coach/GM/favorite player and if everything goes just right once we might be able to accomplish the improbable" sense.

Green Bay has had 16 double-digit win seasons since 1995. That's 16 in 22 years. They've played in 3 Super bowls in that time span, winning 2 of them. That's not luck at work. That's evidence of a well-run franchise.

In that same time span the Vikings have managed double-digit winning seasons just 7 times and we all know how many Super Bowls they've appeared in during that span. Our team's biggest rival has radically out-performed them over the last 20+ years and it's increasingly frustrating that the Vikes just can't get their act together and become a team like that instead of living in the shadow of their biggest rival. It's painful, especially since most of us probably can't stand the Packers. I know I cant...

Sorry, I just needed to vent but I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling this frustration.

Great rant, Jim. I'll just add how extremely tired I am of the Vikings fielding half a team. They've done this even during some of their good seasons. You know what I mean. A good defense but a struggling offense, or an explosive offense with a porous defense. Even the units play halfway ball. The offence can run but it can't pass. Or the defense can defend against the pass but can't stop the run, or vice versa. It's frustrating.

Some of us, including myself, have taken shots at Spielman and/or the coaching. Some criticism should be reserved for the ownership too, given how they've handled the team on occasion. That includes the hiring of egomaniac Brad Childress and perhaps even Mike Zimmer, who is a genius with defense but became the head coach without any discernible vision for the offense.

Sun May 14, 2017 1:37 pm

SidestreamFB Pete

Backup

Joined: Sat May 06, 2017 11:34 amPosts: 62Location: Toronto, Ontario

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

Aaron Rogers would have made Brad Childress look good. I don't think the Packers are best example for top class organization, they've just had 2 HOF QBs for the last 25-30 years. Granted they made two good decisions on acquiring those guys, but just because they roster a million of their own draft picks doesn't make the players good. Rogers makes the players good.

Based on the tone of this thread, I know most won't agree haha, but I have Zimmer (8) > McCarthy (9). As far as head coaches go, SSF Top 10 Head Coaches. Mainly because I'm not sure what McCarthy's function is. Rogers play better when he deviates from the game plan and their defense is traditionally mediocre; last year they were rancid because they dealt with a few injuries.

_________________Not easy being a Vikes fan and staying an "unbiased" creator of Sidestream Football. This is my therapy. SKOL.

Sun May 14, 2017 3:40 pm

Mothman

Defensive Tackle

Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:48 amPosts: 37219Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

SidestreamFB Pete wrote:

Aaron Rogers would have made Brad Childress look good. I don't think the Packers are best example for top class organization, they've just had 2 HOF QBs for the last 25-30 years. Granted they made two good decisions on acquiring those guys, but just because they roster a million of their own draft picks doesn't make the players good. Rogers makes the players good.

As you pointed out, they acquired those two terrific QBs. Favre and Rodgers didn't just wander in off the street on a couple of lucky days. Identifying and developing great QBs is something top NFL organizations do and after getting Favre and Rodgers, GB developed them, built Super Bowl-capable teams around them and won championships. I don't like the Packers but there's really no doubt they've been one of the NFL's top organizations over the past 20-30 years.

Quote:

Based on the tone of this thread, I know most won't agree haha, but I have Zimmer (8) > McCarthy (9). As far as head coaches go, SSF Top 10 Head Coaches. Mainly because I'm not sure what McCarthy's function is.

His function is obviously to coach the football team and since he has a 114-61-1 record (plus a winning record in the postseason and a Super Bowl victory), with one losing season in 11 years, I'd say he's done a pretty good job of it. I've certainly seen better head coaches but thus far, Zimmer isn't among them. I wish the last 11 years for the Vikings had been as successful as McCarthy's tenure in GB. Unfortunately, it's not even close. As Craig said above, ownership has had something to do with that but the Wilfs will remain the owners for the foreseeable future so we have to hope they continue to learn, grow and improve in their role.

I just hope we don't see another mediocre season this year. If so, no change should be off the table.

Sun May 14, 2017 4:58 pm

CbusVikesFan

All Pro Elite Player

Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:07 pmPosts: 1390Location: Columbus, Ohio

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

Mothman wrote:

I'm at the point where another 8-8 or 9-7 season from this Vikings team might as well be a 5 or 6 win season. It's obviously better to win 9 games than 5 but the mediocrity needs to end and I don't mean "end" in the sense of an occasional season with double digit wins and a "one and done" playoff appearance. I mean it in the sense of becoming a team that makes the playoffs years in a row and is an actual threat to win it all, not just a "we have faith in our coach/GM/favorite player and if everything goes just right once we might be able to accomplish the improbable" sense.

Green Bay has had 16 double-digit win seasons since 1995. That's 16 in 22 years. They've played in 3 Super bowls in that time span, winning 2 of them. That's not luck at work. That's evidence of a well-run franchise.

In that same time span the Vikings have managed double-digit winning seasons just 7 times and we all know how many Super Bowls they've appeared in during that span. Our team's biggest rival has radically out-performed them over the last 20+ years and it's increasingly frustrating that the Vikes just can't get their act together and become a team like that instead of living in the shadow of their biggest rival. It's painful, especially since most of us probably can't stand the Packers. I know I cant...

Sorry, I just needed to vent but I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling this frustration.

PREACH ON BROTHER JIM! !! Talking about QB'S, if qb's were the Vikings butt, Rick couldn't find it with both hands. I'm as tired of the gross mismanagement of the team as you are. One and dones, mediocre drafts, pat hwork signings, projects, the list seems endless. Yet here I sit talking about them. I guess it's supposed to get better, "we're on the right track", "we have complete confidence. .", blah blah blah! I've heard enough. I want BETTER results than the past quarter century. QUARTER CENTURY? ?? Y'ALL FEEL ME? CRAPOLA!

_________________Don't hate on my Buckeyes. Some of the best Vikings went to Ohio State.Including now, HOF WR #80 Cris Carter

Sun May 14, 2017 9:54 pm

PurpleMustReign

Starting Wide Receiver

Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:48 pmPosts: 17786Location: Crystal, MN

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

It seems like all Minnesota teams take so long to develop into a winning team. Everson Griffen is going into his 8th or 9th year. Look at the Wild with their aging roster. By the time one part of the team catches up with the other, they have about one, maybe two, good seasons and then it is rebuild again.

It seems like all Minnesota teams take so long to develop into a winning team. Everson Griffen is going into his 8th or 9th year. Look at the Wild with their aging roster. By the time one part of the team catches up with the other, they have about one, maybe two, good seasons and then it is rebuild again.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Everson Griffin is the Ed McDaniel of this era's team...

Sun May 14, 2017 10:45 pm

SidestreamFB Pete

Backup

Joined: Sat May 06, 2017 11:34 amPosts: 62Location: Toronto, Ontario

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

Mothman wrote:

His function is obviously to coach the football team and since he has a 114-61-1 record (plus a winning record in the postseason and a Super Bowl victory), with one losing season in 11 years, I'd say he's done a pretty good job of it. I've certainly seen better head coaches but thus far, Zimmer isn't among them. I wish the last 11 years for the Vikings had been as successful as McCarthy's tenure in GB. Unfortunately, it's not even close. As Craig said above, ownership has had something to do with that but the Wilfs will remain the owners for the foreseeable future so we have to hope they continue to learn, grow and improve in their role.

I just hope we don't see another mediocre season this year. If so, no change should be off the table.

I agree that management is currently backing us into a corner, with no starting QB for the 2018 season. We'll likely have to reach in the draft or get taken behind the shed by Bradford's agent. As for finding one in the draft it's often a crap shoot, the odds of the Colts falling into Luck were minimal, yet the football gods injured Payton Manning in a very specific year. EJ Manuel and Geno Smith were the top two prospects the year after Luck.

It's not like the Packers traded up to get Rodgers or anything.

Granted, grabbing the third or fourth rated prospect every few years, hoping for a franchise guy, is a horrible pattern that we should look to break out of.

If this is a failed year, I could see a clean sweep Rick and Zim. Which would be fine, just hopefully we don't settle for a mediocre QB talent to hook our new guys up with.

_________________Not easy being a Vikes fan and staying an "unbiased" creator of Sidestream Football. This is my therapy. SKOL.

Mon May 15, 2017 4:03 pm

Mothman

Defensive Tackle

Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:48 amPosts: 37219Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

SidestreamFB Pete wrote:

I agree that management is currently backing us into a corner, with no starting QB for the 2018 season. We'll likely have to reach in the draft or get taken behind the shed by Bradford's agent. As for finding one in the draft it's often a crap shoot, the odds of the Colts falling into Luck were minimal, yet the football gods injured Payton Manning in a very specific year. EJ Manuel and Geno Smith were the top two prospects the year after Luck.

It's not like the Packers traded up to get Rodgers or anything.

Granted, grabbing the third or fourth rated prospect every few years, hoping for a franchise guy, is a horrible pattern that we should look to break out of.

If this is a failed year, I could see a clean sweep Rick and Zim. Which would be fine, just hopefully we don't settle for a mediocre QB talent to hook our new guys up with.

It would definitely be nice to see them break that QB cycle.

Ideally, there will be no need for a clean sweep either. We'll see what happens... it's hard to know just what to expect from the Vikings this season.

Mon May 15, 2017 6:11 pm

SidestreamFB Pete

Backup

Joined: Sat May 06, 2017 11:34 amPosts: 62Location: Toronto, Ontario

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

Mothman wrote:

SidestreamFB Pete wrote:

I agree that management is currently backing us into a corner, with no starting QB for the 2018 season. We'll likely have to reach in the draft or get taken behind the shed by Bradford's agent. As for finding one in the draft it's often a crap shoot, the odds of the Colts falling into Luck were minimal, yet the football gods injured Payton Manning in a very specific year. EJ Manuel and Geno Smith were the top two prospects the year after Luck.

It's not like the Packers traded up to get Rodgers or anything.

Granted, grabbing the third or fourth rated prospect every few years, hoping for a franchise guy, is a horrible pattern that we should look to break out of.

If this is a failed year, I could see a clean sweep Rick and Zim. Which would be fine, just hopefully we don't settle for a mediocre QB talent to hook our new guys up with.

It would definitely be nice to see them break that QB cycle.

Ideally, there will be no need for a clean sweep either. We'll see what happens... it's hard to know just what to expect from the Vikings this season.

I'm optimistic and think we have a chance to make some noise this year. But, odds are we go 7-9, 8-8, or 9-7. In which case we are in really bad shape. We'd have to make a massive trade to get a top 2 QB prospect, or pay Sam, who just lead of to 7 or 9 wins. If we're not making playoffs, ideally we miss it by 5-6 games and get a top prospect to begin the rebuild.

Either way, just put down $10 Vikes win the SB haha pays 37 to 1. #NotScared

_________________Not easy being a Vikes fan and staying an "unbiased" creator of Sidestream Football. This is my therapy. SKOL.

Mon May 15, 2017 6:20 pm

PacificNorseWest

Career Elite Player

Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:10 amPosts: 2265Location: Seattle, Wa

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

The Vikings will go 10-6, at worst. Enough of this conservative bs. They improved the most out of any team in the division and that's nearly half the battle right there. No reason they don't win 10 games.

Mon May 15, 2017 9:17 pm

SidestreamFB Pete

Backup

Joined: Sat May 06, 2017 11:34 amPosts: 62Location: Toronto, Ontario

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

PacificNorseWest wrote:

The Vikings will go 10-6, at worst. Enough of this conservative bs. They improved the most out of any team in the division and that's nearly half the battle right there. No reason they don't win 10 games.

With no running back, a quarterback that didn’t join the team until Week 1 of the regular season, and a plethora of offensive line injuries the Vikings were two fourth-quarter (more like final 2 minute) melt-downs against the Lions and a blown referee call against the Cowboys away from being 10-6 or 11-5. They have address the offensive line; Sam Bradford has a whole offseason to prepare for his contract year; and they got the most dangerous weapon in the 2017 NFL Draft, Dalvin Cook, to match up with Latavius Murray -giving them one of the better running back tandems in the NFL. With an improved running-game, their rested defense going to be even more dangerous."

And I do believe it!

_________________Not easy being a Vikes fan and staying an "unbiased" creator of Sidestream Football. This is my therapy. SKOL.

Mon May 15, 2017 9:35 pm

Mothman

Defensive Tackle

Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:48 amPosts: 37219Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

SidestreamFB Pete wrote:

PacificNorseWest wrote:

The Vikings will go 10-6, at worst. Enough of this conservative bs. They improved the most out of any team in the division and that's nearly half the battle right there. No reason they don't win 10 games.

Haha right on, finally a believer.

Oh, this place is loaded with believers. You've just been seeing too many of my grouchy posts.

Tue May 16, 2017 6:06 am

PurpleMustReign

Starting Wide Receiver

Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:48 pmPosts: 17786Location: Crystal, MN

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

Mothman wrote:

SidestreamFB Pete wrote:

PacificNorseWest wrote:

The Vikings will go 10-6, at worst. Enough of this conservative bs. They improved the most out of any team in the division and that's nearly half the battle right there. No reason they don't win 10 games.

Haha right on, finally a believer.

Oh, this place is loaded with believers. You've just been seeing too many of my grouchy posts.

Well many of us have also been fans for a long time and have come to expect the worst.

The Vikings will go 10-6, at worst. Enough of this conservative bs. They improved the most out of any team in the division and that's nearly half the battle right there. No reason they don't win 10 games.

With no running back, a quarterback that didn’t join the team until Week 1 of the regular season, and a plethora of offensive line injuries the Vikings were two fourth-quarter (more like final 2 minute) melt-downs against the Lions and a blown referee call against the Cowboys away from being 10-6 or 11-5. They have address the offensive line; Sam Bradford has a whole offseason to prepare for his contract year; and they got the most dangerous weapon in the 2017 NFL Draft, Dalvin Cook, to match up with Latavius Murray -giving them one of the better running back tandems in the NFL. With an improved running-game, their rested defense going to be even more dangerous."

And I do believe it!

On paper it looks good....very good. But.....they need to execute and a little luck to bounce their way. I'm all in.

Tue May 16, 2017 7:19 am

mansquatch

Hall of Fame Candidate

Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:44 pmPosts: 3300Location: Coon Rapids, MN

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

SidestreamFB Pete wrote:

PacificNorseWest wrote:

The Vikings will go 10-6, at worst. Enough of this conservative bs. They improved the most out of any team in the division and that's nearly half the battle right there. No reason they don't win 10 games.

With no running back, a quarterback that didn’t join the team until Week 1 of the regular season, and a plethora of offensive line injuries the Vikings were two fourth-quarter (more like final 2 minute) melt-downs against the Lions and a blown referee call against the Cowboys away from being 10-6 or 11-5. They have address the offensive line; Sam Bradford has a whole offseason to prepare for his contract year; and they got the most dangerous weapon in the 2017 NFL Draft, Dalvin Cook, to match up with Latavius Murray -giving them one of the better running back tandems in the NFL. With an improved running-game, their rested defense going to be even more dangerous."

And I do believe it!

There it is. The Lions were a team that statistically over achieved last year, winning several games on last second heroics by their QB. We bore the brunt of two of those comebacks. The Cowboys were a team that over achieved playing a very soft schedule. IMO both of those teams are much more likely to be worst in 2017 than 2016 as they regress to the mean.

The '17 roster has to prove it, but on paper I do not see an argument that the roster on offense hasn't gotten markedly better from a '16 club that had no viable option at RB and the worst set of tackles in the NFL. The question is how much better? Is it enough to flip the games on the margin? I think so. Others seem to think not.

_________________Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi

Tue May 16, 2017 8:15 am

Nunin

Pro Bowl Elite Player

Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:40 amPosts: 567

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

I think they have enough talent in place to be a serious threat. With Remmers and Rieff being average next season, it would represent a significant upgrade on offense. Also, if there is any semblance of health stability along the line it will be huge.If they only manage 8-8...heads should roll.

Tue May 16, 2017 8:44 am

mansquatch

Hall of Fame Candidate

Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:44 pmPosts: 3300Location: Coon Rapids, MN

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

Nunin wrote:

I think they have enough talent in place to be a serious threat. With Remmers and Rieff being average next season, it would represent a significant upgrade on offense. Also, if there is any semblance of health stability along the line it will be huge.If they only manage 8-8...heads should roll.

Yeah I agree on that. If they go 8-8, barring major injury, it will be a failure of management. They addressed the major debilitating issues from last season. Time to deliver.

_________________Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi

Tue May 16, 2017 9:09 am

Mothman

Defensive Tackle

Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:48 amPosts: 37219Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

PurpleMustReign wrote:

Well many of us have also been fans for a long time and have come to expect the worst.

Yes, we're "Pavlov's fans". Ring a bell and we salivate. Show us the Vikings and we expect crushing disappointment!

Tue May 16, 2017 10:31 am

SidestreamFB Pete

Backup

Joined: Sat May 06, 2017 11:34 amPosts: 62Location: Toronto, Ontario

Re: Vikes Go 8-8 According to Vegas

Nunin wrote:

I think they have enough talent in place to be a serious threat. With Remmers and Rieff being average next season, it would represent a significant upgrade on offense. Also, if there is any semblance of health stability along the line it will be huge.If they only manage 8-8...heads should roll.

Reiff had a down year at LT last year, but he is built to run-block. Remmers actually graded pretty well (79) on PFF as a run blocker in 2016. We are clearly looking to have a run based team this year. We even drafted a runblocking C/OG in Elflein to help our well-rounded backfield.

They have a good shot of laying down a viable run attack, which will innately take pressure off of Bradford. It helps get us in less obvious, shorter, second and third down situations, teams will be less prone to pin their ears back. It will also give our defense (obviously our strong point) more time to rest.

I think they had the right idea and picked up two tackles that can get it done.

_________________Not easy being a Vikes fan and staying an "unbiased" creator of Sidestream Football. This is my therapy. SKOL.

If we don't rid ourselves of this west coast dink and dunk offensive strategy we will go nowhere fast. It's not a viable offensive scheme in 2017 anymore. It worked in the 80s for the 49er cause they had rice and taylor who could catch a short pass and run for 70 yards at any time. We haven't any WR like that since Anthony Carter and Randy Moss.